Jesus the Simpleton

Listening to the preachers and teachers of the Christian faith today, we'd have to assume that this title was right.  So often Christian leaders choose to teach Paul or another Epistle or get all wrapped up in the so-called rapture.  Or they'll give us some platitude or simple saying of Jesus.  Yet, we're virtually never presented with the deeper teaching mysteries of this Man who changed the course of history.  Maybe He didn't have any.  Maybe it was just that He died on a cross and was resurrected.  That'd be enough, I'm sure.  But a dull and doltish Jesus? 

Nothing could be further from the truth.

Jesus was a Jewish Rabbi.  For real.  He was an extraordinarily brilliant man.  Smarter than Paul and all the rest.  Yet, he's been so deified that most have left Jesus the Teacher somewhere on page 43 of their New Testament. 

Christians today have surprisingly little knowledge about First Century Israel.  They have almost no understanding of what Rabbis did or why they had disciples.  Ask them what a yoke was and they'll likely tell you it was an implement used on a farm. This lack of understanding is a great curiosity, seeing how Jesus was a Rabbi and His earliest followers were disciples.  The founders of the Christian faith spent their time together in a Rabbi/disciple relationship.   

In Hebrew antiquity, each Rabbi had a set of teachings or interpretations that were commonly known as his yoke.  These teachings were usually very difficult, deep, and because of this depth, sometimes known as mysteries.  These pearls were the identifying mark of a Rabbi; what set him apart from his contemporaries.  Sure each Rabbi taught the standard material of Torah.  But it was their special teachings - their yoke - that was coveted by those who would seek to follow. 

Just like the other Rabbis of His day, Jesus, too, had a yoke.  This original curriculum was left in a manual by one of His Apostles.  The Mysteries of the Kingdom, found in Matthew 13, and their hidden meanings are that special yoke of Rabbi Jesus.

Just like the other Jewish Rabbis, Jesus kept His yoke strictly for those who were His own followers.  Matthew (13:11) tells us what Jesus said to the disciples in this regard: 'To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom, but to them (the multitude) it has not been granted.'  Those who were outside this inner circle received only the basic teachings.  But those outsiders weren't permanently locked out of this extraordinary wisdom.  If they wanted to obtain the mysteries for themselves, they could.  The price?  Following as a disciple.

Now I know that many will object.  Many will say that all of Jesus' teaching was plain and simple and out in the open.  But my friends, let us not jump to conclusions based on what we suppose He was like.  Let us not project onto Jesus our own egalitarian and simplistic thoughts about His methods.  Let us see - without prejudiced eyes - how He went about teaching.

Maybe we'll see that His methods were far more advanced than we ever dreamed, worthy of the greatest praise.   

We'll examine a few thoughts regarding the Great Teacher and His methods.  We'll also look at how Matthew concealed Jesus' original curriculum within his gospel.  And we'll not neglect the namesake of this blog, the Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom.  These are the secret discipleship teachings of Jesus.  I do hope you'll join me on this journey.   

Comments

[kriss]

Excellent!
As one who stuggles daily to show that the surface text is but the starting point of Gods Word. That the preachers teachers ministers of today are so without the know how to even study the Word of God much less teach it.
I have found without some knowledge of ancient Jewish custom, Idioms, and the original language used. It is near impossible to come to a fuller understanding of the Bible... I so am enjoying your work here cant wait for the next article

[kriss]

I see the last entry was made in 2007 ...
I have posted this link on my site are there going to be any further posts ..Is this going to be continued as stated in your following statement:
We'll also look at how Matthew concealed Jesus' original curriculum within his gospel. And we'll not neglect the namesake of this blog, the Seven Mysteries of the Kingdom. These are the secret discipleship teachings of Jesus. I do hope you'll join me on this journey.

I know it took awhile to find you :) but please do consider continuing as I know many who would be interested to read
God Bless